Train to be a Driving Instructor

At Ellison's School of Motoring you are not just buying a training package; you are buying a new career, and investing into a new lifestyle for yourself. By training with us, you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be receiving the highest level of training in order to make your career transition a success. We are one of the best training providers in the South of England.

Becoming a Driving Instructor

Being an approved driving instructor (ADI) can be a very rewarding career: you’ll help people to learn an important skill for life. The job involves working with all sorts of people so you’ll need good people skills as well as patience and understanding, a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of driving, an ability to teach and awareness of changes in the regulations for driving tests, as well as driving instruction.

How to applyFirst you’ll need to apply to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to become an ADI. To do this you’ll need to give details about your current driving licence including any driving offences. You’ll also need a criminal records disclosure number.

You must have held a full driving licence for at least 4 years.

You must not have more than 6 points on your driving licence.

Next stepsWhen you’ve been accepted to start the qualifying process, you can start your training towards the three ADI tests.

The Three exams you have to take!Part 1 - Theory and Hazard Perception Test
The theory test - This is split into 4 categories and you have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions. There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories, and these are:

Hazard Perception Test – Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works. You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one developing hazard - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

What a ‘developing hazard’ is
A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

Example - A car is parked at the side of the road and isn’t doing anything. It wouldn’t cause you to take action, so it’s not a developing hazard. When you get closer, the car’s right-hand indicator starts to flash and it starts to move away. You’d need to slow down, so it’s now a developing hazard.

How the scoring works
You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard. To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop. You don’t lose points if you click and get it wrong. However, you won’t score anything if you click continuously or in a pattern. You only get one attempt at each clip. You can’t review or change your responses.

Part 2 Practical Driving Test.
There are 5 parts to the approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 test:

an eyesight check

‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions

general driving ability

manoeuvres

independent driving

How long does the test last?
The test takes around 1 hour.

The eyesight test - You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:

26.5 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate

27.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as AB51 ABC. You’ll fail the test if you don’t pass the eyesight test. It will count as one of the 3 attempts you’re allowed at the ADI part 2 test.

‘Show me, tell me’ questions
You’ll be asked 5 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions. These test that you know how to carry out basic safety tasks.

You’ll be asked:

3 ‘tell me’ questions at the start of your test, before you start driving

2 ‘show me’ questions while you’re driving - for example, showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers

You’ll get a driving fault for each incorrect answer you give.

You’ll get a serious fault and fail the test if you answer all 5 questions incorrectly, or if you lose control of the car while answering any of the ‘show me’ questions.

Your general driving ability - You’ll have to show the examiner all of the following:

expert handling of the controls

use of correct road procedure

anticipation of the actions of other road users and then taking appropriate action

sound judgement of distance, speed and timing

consideration for the convenience and safety of other road users

driving in an environmentally-friendly manner

You’ll drive in varying road and traffic conditions, including motorways or dual carriageways where possible.

You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop

Reversing your vehicle - The examiner will ask you to do 2 of the following exercises:

parallel park at the side of the road

reverse into a parking bay and drive out

drive into a parking bay and reverse out

pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

Independent Driving - You’ll have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:

directions from a sat nav

traffic signs

The examiner will tell you which you have to do.

Following directions from a sat nav - The examiner will provide the sat nav and set it up for you. You can’t follow directions from your own sat nav during the test. Going off the route - Your test result won’t be affected if you take a wrong turning, unless you make a fault while doing it. The examiner will help you get back on the route if you do.

If you can’t see traffic signs - If you can’t see a traffic sign (for example, because it’s covered by trees), the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.

If you make mistakes during your test - You can carry on if you make a mistake. It might not affect your test result if it’s not serious. The examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users.

Your Pupil Your pupil can be a learner or a full licence holder. They can’t be an approved driving instructor (ADI) or someone else who is preparing to take the ADI part 3 test. You can take your trainer or mentor with you, but they can’t take part in the lesson.

What you’ll be marked on - You’ll be marked on 17 areas of competence that are grouped into 3 categories:

lesson planning

risk management

teaching and learning strategies

The 17 areas of competence are listed in the ADI part 3 test report form, which the examiner will fill in at the end of your test. You’ll get a score from 0 to 3 for each of the 17 competencies, which are added up to work out if you’ve passed the test, and what your grade will be.

We offer training packages that will guide you successfully through this process and on the road to a successful career as a driving instructor.

Come and Join Our Team

When you join our team our main priority is ensuring that you are valued as a Driving Instructor and become part of the team. We want you to enjoy the rewards that come with working with a professional team like ours, not just for the pupil support but also financial rewards too. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information about joining our team.

Lisa

FOUNDER & MANAGER

Paul

ADI & HEAD OF INSTRUCTION

Adrian

Head of ADI Development & Training

Kate

ADI

Angie

ADI

Matthew

ADI

Steve

ADI

Barry

PDI

Rob

PDI

Lily

PDI

Dan

ADI

Gary

PDI

Our customers love us

One of the main things that people should look for when choosing a driving school is that their instructors should be encouraging and very positive. Sometimes, when starting driving lessons with a new instructor it can be a daunting experience, however, we can assure you quality of service.

Hannah Deason-Barrow

I always thought learning to drive would be very difficult but my instructor Steve made things very simple and easy to understand. I would recommend everyone who wants driving lessons in Taunton to take driving lessons with Ellisons School of Motoring. Thank you so much Steve. I am now a confident and safe driver.

Jordan Eick

I was recommended to Ellison's Driving School in Somerset by a friend. My friend was always telling me how he loved his driving lessons and kept going on about it. So, I thought I would give Ellison's a call to start taking driving lessons in Bridgwater and I soon realised that my friend was right.

Sandra Didzgalvyte

If you're looking for a driving school in Wellington then make sure you give Ellison's School of Motoring a call. I was nervous at first but my instructor was amazing. I had heard of Ellison's and that they were good and I soon realised for myself that they very good, in fact, not just good, but bloody brilliant - Thank you Ellison's.